Process for the production of catalyzers for the synthesis of ammonia



reduced, as water, even'iif've Patented an. 19, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVAB WAIJ'BID OEDERBEBG, F IBEBLIN-STEGLITZ, GERMANY, ASSIGNOB TO NOBSKmno-nnmmsx KVAELBTOFAKTIESELSKAB, 0F GHBIS'IIANIA, NORWAY.

PROCESS FOR THE PBODUGI'ION OF CATALYZERB FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF AMMONIA.

Io Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ivan Wnmrmn C-nnnnnnue, a subject of the King ofSweden, residing. at F riedrichstrasse /11, Berlin- Steglitz, Germany,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for theProduction of Catalyzers. for the Synthesis of'Ammonia; and I do herebyto be a full, clear, and

declare the following h t e invention, so as exact description willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make andusethe same.

As it is known, metals which belong to the'iron group are-used ascatalyze'rs for the technical synthesis of ammonia. The material fromwhich such catalyzers are produced, is generally made by treatingcompounds of the aforementioned metals with various reagents in anaqueoussolution or in suspension and removing the water. As suchreagents has been rolposed cyanides, alumina, chlorides and hy roxydesof alkalis. From this solution either new compounds originate or anintimate mixture of the raw materials is obtained.

It is not, however, always possible to thoroughly eliminate the water,especially as it is very often chemically boun The efiiciency of theeatalyzer is thus greatly small quantities, has an extremely detrimentalefiect on catalyzers of the kind mentioned.

This drawback is avoided by the present invention by using instead ofwater, an anhydrous liquid ammonia. It has been proved that reactionstake place in this li aid that produces materials which, after susequent treatment,- produce very efficient catalyzers-reactions to whichnothing equal Application filed IuIy 14, 1924. Serial No. 725,896.

can be obtained in a hydrous solution. All

superfluous ammonia is easily eliminated by evaporation at the usualtemperature, and the quantity of ammonia that eventually remains in thematerial, from which the catalyzers are to be produced, has more abeneficial than a detrimental efiect on the formation of theca-talyzers.

As well known, ammonla is a good solvent for various materials but itmay also be used in connection withf'insoluble materials, as goodresults are obtained also in the event of one or more of said materialsforming a suspension in the ammonia.

The following may be given as an example of how the process may beperformed:

2 kilogrammes of anhydrous ferric chloride are mixed to ether with 5kilogrammes of dry cyanide of potassium and litres of liquid ammoniaduring active stirring. ammonia is then eliminated by boiling of thesolution. The residue is slowly heated in an atmosphere that isnon-oxydizing and up to such a temperature that the mass does not frittogether.

Claims:

1. Process for the production of catalyzers for the synthesis of ammoniaconsisting in compounds of metals of the iron roup with cyanides in amedium of liqui anhydrous ammonia, .freeing the mixture from a surplusof ammonia and heating it in a non-ox dizing atmosphere.

2. Catalyzers manu actured according to the process set forth in claim1.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have si nedmy name.

IVAB WALFRID (iEDEBBERG.

The

